Just Typing Truth ...
 

I know a few churches whose youth leader couldn't lead ants to a cow patty for feasting, much-less teach their youth how to maintain a relationship with god. So, to keep the youth in church, they bring in colored lights and smoke machines into youth services to entertain them! :eek::bolt:stirpot

I didn't know the Holy Ghost was too weak and boring, that it would need the assistance of colored lights and smoke machines to win and keep the youth.

FYI...I'm only 38 years of age.

God, I don't know what happened between my youth until the present day. Where did you fail? In my teenage years, your word and spirit kept me. I didn't need the assistance of smoke machines and colored lights to be kept by you. The awe of your power and who you are, they were enough for me until I decided to leave your presence for a few years, in my rebelliousness. However, it was your mercy that allowed me repentance and reconciliation of our relationship in my early adulthood years.

God, I'm curious, if your word and power were good enough for me in my teenage years, why isn't it good enough for the youth now? Are you lacking somewhere? Are you losing your touch? Why have church services adopted colored lights and smoke machines into church services? God, could it be that your ways are too old fashion?

God, could it be that our current leaders have just gone stupid? Could it be that our present youths and leaders live on a hype of emotionalism, have no clue in maintaining a relationship with you, so they need entertainment? Could it be that our current leaders don't know how to get a hold of you, so they substitute the leading of your spirit with a bunch of stupidity? Are they too stupid to realize that nothing can substitute the results of prayer and fasting?

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Yeah I wonder how the book of Acts had massive outpourings of the Spirit without youth groups, stage lights, bands, drama teams....Peter healed a lame man and he followed them into the temple leaping and praising God...The people rushed him and John and he preached Jesus into them and 5000 got the HolyGhost.

We live in a culture of distraction...We no longer willingly seek God but we have to be lured and distracted into seeking Him by setting a mood, atmosphere by emotional manipulation and special effects.

Moses didn't seek God on his own willingly, for 80 years he lived without seeking Jehovah until finally God had to get his attention by setting a bush on fire that did not burn. I wonder how many more years Israel had to remain in bondage because Moses did not seek God on with his own volition.

God help me to seek after Him without relying on distraction to do so....

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

What massive outpourings?

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

3,000 5,000 souls at a time and then the individual households being converted. It was estimated that 1/3 of the known world was converted...Just something I had read.

Also think of this.

Jesus fed 5,000...But it's been said that women and children were not counted....If that's the case He could have fed up to 20,000.

Could it be that the outpourings of Acts were numbered in the same way? Men only counted? If that's the case, just how massive WERE those outpourings?

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Stupid youth leaders! I mean, c'mon! These guys are so dumb. D. U. M. B. Dumb!

As a former youth minister for about 15 years, I get so sick of seeing posts like this. I also am tired of "bash the worship leader" threads, as I spent nearly 20 years leading worship.

Perhaps if parents weren't so lazy and if father's conducted their role as spiritual leaders of the home, instead of passing it off to their wives, perhaps then kids wouldn't be such carnal, entertainment driven brats! But dad's are too busy chasing money or playing golf and mom's are too busy on FB or Pinterest, and both simply pay for a phone, ipad, Netflix, etc to entertain their kids so they won't have to. They dress up nice and praise God on Sunday, but don't mention Him during the week. They don't pray or have devotions together, but will complain that the youth minister and youth group isn't keeping their carnal kid spiritual.

The lights are the least of the problems. Don't blame the lights on the kids being carnal.

That's just stupid.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

IMO, people need to stop saying *if you save others, God will save your family*

The most important people you need to be making sure are saved is your family, not that the other isn't also important.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

A youth leader is a youth leader. Where parents fail in teaching the responsibility of maintaining a relationship with God, that's where you step in as a youth minister. Thus, the "minister" in "youth minister."

Under you're analogy, if two parents are unsaved devils and their child attends church, it's the parent's responsibility to teach their child about God, even though they don't serve God?

You see how dumb your comment is? :throwrock

As a minister, you step in and help! That's the problem with this generation! If you're not there to step in and help, what are you there for?

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Everyone is equally important!

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

The youth group I grew up in was a close-knit group. We didn't have lights or fog or anything. For a game, we did the Bible Sword Drill. Remember that?

I've used stage lighting, even used some fog and FX lighting for games and skits. We kept the lights on during the service, unless there was a skit we did. Stage lighting was for fx, just to efficiently light the stage.

We had skits and games -- GASP! Several of the short sketches we did led to incredible altar services with kids receiving the HG. But put me on blast, because during those sketches I used fog and fx lighting.

It's typically that the one's who have never been in the position are the one's who complain the most.

But please, don't let me stop the "whack a youth minister" game so many love to play!

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Have you ever been in a ministry position? Oh right, no, you like to go on forums and post threads bashing your Pastor over tithes and comments he's made. You'd rather complain and gossip than actually do something.

Where did I say their unsaved devils? All I stated was they live for God on Sunday and don't mention Him during the week. That, sadly, describes a LOT of homes today. They're just too occupied with their lives to fulfill their God-given roles.

Wasn't dumb, you just misunderstood the analogy.

I don't know. I guess I could create threads and posts, bashing different ministers for what I consider to be their faults. That seems like it's pretty easy to do.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

in God's eyes yes

but for relationships and ministry:
God
Spouse
Children
Parents
Church Family
Rest of the World

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Church has become a spiritual hyperbaric chamber, artificially created to try and provide a concentrated atmosphere to make up for our lack of spirituality and relationship with God throughout the week.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Lol…..Lets get something straight. Firstly, how could you possible know whether I’m in a ministry position? Even though my pastor told me I am, I couldn’t careless. That’s was people seek these days, titles and accolades. Everything that I’ve spoken about here in regard to tithing, I’ve spoken to my pastor about. You pretend I’m one of these little girls that speaks behind people’s back.
I’m not gossiping, but rather dialoging and I have done something about the things I'm mentioning. I thought that’s what these forums were about, discussing matters.



No, but it has the same reference point. If parents can’t teach their children how to maintain a spiritual relationship, then that’s where youth ministers step in and help. However, there are a lot of lazy youth ministers, and possibly you fell into that category, whom always makes up excuses. You then go on to say that, "sadly, describes a LOT of homes today. They're just too occupied with their lives to fulfill their God-given roles.”

Okay, so what what are you doing about? Since you’re no longer a youth minister, is it no longer your problem? If it’s no longer your problem, was it then just a duty of the role you fulfilled? And if it was just a duty, it must have never been in your heart to help if you’ve ceased to help the youth now that you don't hold that position.




I didn’t misunderstand it at all. You just don’t know how to compose proper examples. As I said above, they both have the same reference point. I create threads to discuss things I’ve seen. It’s not like I’m making things up. I’m sorry David, but I’ve never needed smoke machines and colored lights for God to speak through me, nor will I ever need them.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

So your pastor says you're in a ministry position, and you trash him on this forum? With saints like you ... ! What ministry position are you in? I know you could care less about the titles and such, but humor me.

Funny, you call it "dialoging." Other ministers like to gossip by asking for prayer for the individual about whom they're spilling the beans. Also, "discussing matters" and bashing Pastors and youth ministers are two very different things.

Made my head hurt, trying to read that paragraph.

No, I wasn't a lazy youth minister. I worked a full time job and used every spare moment of my "free" time in prayer, study and preparation for the next service or class. I practically lived in the church. And when I was in youth ministry, the fellow youth ministers I knew weren't lazy either. You have a misconception of what a youth minister's role is. A youth minister is not the primary minister for the teenager - that is the role of the father. A youth minister isn't even the secondary minister, that is the Pastor. A youth minister is there to encourage and reaffirm what has already been taught in the home and from the pulpit.

Ignorance is blissful for you, isn't it?

Glad you've got it all together! :thumbsup As you posted in another thread - Wish there were more like you!

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

I don't know if what I have to contribute to this thread will apply or not. But I'll share it.

I remember a few years ago when I was attending a UPCI church the focus was on our "Apostolic Identity". Sermons were focused on the rejection of "seeker sensitive", the "relevant movement", etc. It was basically a push to fall in love with holding the traditional Apostolic standards and patterns of worship.

What troubled me was... shouldn't we seek our "identity" in Jesus? Shouldn't HE be our model and example regardless of context? It seemed like they were so caught up with being "Apostolic" that I felt like Jesus would be sitting in the back watching the clock and waiting for the service to be over. It was all about "us"... not about "Him".

I was born again at 13 years old. That was 28 years ago. With every twist and turn my life has taken (some for the better and some for the worse) I've never lost my faith in Jesus. Even when I was "backslidden" I could not deny that I felt Him watching over me always. I couldn't run far enough to get away. I couldn't drink anything strong enough to numb me from feeling Him. I couldn't find a sin that would make Him just leave me alone... and I tried quite a few really bad ones (and a couple really good ones :winkgrin). It was as though if I decided to dive head first into Hell... He'd already be there waiting on me before I landed. After I became so worn out and battered from my own battle to escape... I just had to surrender. After it all I asked "Why?" I felt the impression of the Spirit say, "Because I love you." It was over. He won the war.

Somewhere I found a relationship with Him that I couldn't shake even after I tried. At 13 years old, I was born again of the water and Spirit. I couldn't tell you much about doctrine. In fact, I didn't even known what made Apostolics different from other Christians beyond the obvious fact that we dressed funny and liked to run and dance in church. And honestly, I didn't even know that I should care... or that there was even a debate. Being Apostolic was "okay", but it wasn't anything I cared much about or thought was all that important. I can't describe it any other way than to say...

I simply fell in love with Jesus.

He became my everything. I couldn't get enough prayer time, I couldn't read enough of my Bible. I wanted to be in church every time the doors were open. Everywhere I went, the name of Jesus was sure to be part of my conversation with whoever I was talking to. Was I a perfect kid? Nope. I'm still not. But I knew He was perfect. I knew that He loved me. And as a result, I loved Him more than anything. And whenever I sinned...it broke my heart. It still does. And every time He forgave me, I felt my trust in Him and my love for Him grow. And even today, every time He forgives me, my love and trust grows. I could ramble forever on this, so I'll try to cut it short.

I fell in love with Jesus.

Could it be that falling in love with being Apostolic... isn't enough?
Could it be that falling in love with various standards or styles... isn't enough?
Could it be that falling in love with the church... isn't enough?
Could it be that falling in love with doctrine... isn't enough?
And dare I say it... but... could it be that falling in love with your pastor or youth leaders... isn't enough?

When I see kids drift... I can't help but wonder... do they love Him? I mean, do they really, really, LOVE Him?

If I were to see this in my son as he grew older, the only real advice I'd have for him is... fall in love with Jesus... and everything else will work itself out.

Maybe we need a fresh baptism of the reality of Jesus, a reality we can fall in love with all over again.

Maybe I'm way out there. Please excuse me if I'm just rambling silliness.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Aquila, there is something to what you say. I will only add one thing. If we love Him we will keep His Word.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Wow, a lot of assumptions and accusations being made here. smh I'm noticing a trend with you.

I am not in the role of youth minister anymore. I am currently helping a couple establish a church. I have known this family for many years and I do my best in whatever I am asked or feel led to do.

"Is it no longer your problem?" This is the point at which your accusations tumbled into the abyss. From here you created more accusations, all of which are false.

1) I would never consider ministry, nor any aspect of ministry, a "problem." It was an honor to be involved in youth ministry.

2) I never considered it a "duty" or a "role" of which I was obligated to fulfill. Being unpaid, it wasn't for the money either. In fact, I spent a lot of money as a youth minister.

3) As stated previously, I am currently helping to establish a church. If there is a need, and if the Lord wills, I will be happy to help out. Your accusation that "it must have never been in your heart to help if you've ceased to help the youth now that you don't hold that position" is terribly wrong.

You should really consider establishing a new church. I would imagine it would be the PERFECT church, because you would be the PERFECT pastor. :nod

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

This is great! :thumbsup

This sounds like a sermon I heard from Rev. Cody Marks titled "Heart Condition." You can preach doctrines and convictions, standards and separation until you're blue in the face. But if the heart isn't changed, it won't matter.

Also listened to another sermon by Rev. Scott Graham, in which he mentioned how sermons many times aim for the heart, but only hit the ears.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

I want to use this as an opportunity to point something out. It's not personal in any way, because I think we've all done it.

Notice... we always gotta add that bucket of cold water, don't we?

And when we do that, we change the subject from Jesus to us and our obedience. Then it calls to question, "What does keeping His Word mean?" Then we get five dozen interpretations of what it means, with 15 different views on standards, two Sabbatarian admonishments, and a head covering in a pear tree.

And we're in chains again.

If we REALLY fall in love with Him. We don't need to be reminded that sin is sin... and if lose our way and we sin... we know we need to run back into His arms. That's the nature of love.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

So, let's follow the flow you created here. You said quite well that if we love Him, "we will keep His Word".

What specifically does that mean?

Because without definition, it's just a very general statement that could mean... anything.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

since you see the word of God as being a bucket of cold water, I will bow out of the conversation.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Amen.

But, let's elaborate on this.

What do we mean by "the heart being changed"???

I remember when I'd preach, I got a lot of "Amens" on the statement, but there were blank looks in people's eyes. What kind of "change" are we talking about? Imagine a teen or youth hearing this. Will they think that at some point they'll wake up in the morning and suddenly, "Bam!", heart change! They want to go to Jackson College of Ministries and dress like a mortician? lol

Or does it mean a heart that is lovingly sensitive to the Spirit?

I've discovered, we use a lot of lingo that isn't even defined. So frankly, everyone assumes we mean what they think we mean. And we're happy about those generalizations. It becomes rather subjective. We don't define our terms objective spiritual realities.

I remember after a two week revival, I asked my wife, "What did the guy say?" She said, "He told us that we need to be more sold out." And I said, "But what does that mean?" She stared blankly at me and said, "Ummm... willing to go without television?" After we talked about this, we got the tape. We listened intently... and we were amazed at how many vague generalizations were made without specifics.

And our youth grow up with this sort of thing. We're old enough to fill in the blanks and assume we know what a brother or sister might be saying. They aren't. In the end... what do they really walk away with?

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Please don't make that assumption. I don't think the Word of God is a bucket of cold water. However, I've discovered that a lot of people only use statements like that as a segway to draw people into their... interpretation... of that Word. For example, some might move forward and demand Sabbath keeping, a dietary standard, or even head coverings on women. Some might move forward and insist that one must give up the internet. Another might move forward and insist that we use the name Yeshua over Jesus and celebrate feast days I can't even pronounce. I mean, such a statement is often a bucket of cold water because... so many have made it one. We hear that statement, and we wait for the other shoe to drop... "What are they going to hit me with next? No short sleeves? No beards?...or I don't love Him?"

It's not your fault that it can be like this. I'm just using your post to illustrate a very important point. It is like we're all conditioned to some degree to keep that bucket of water at the ready, just in case someone gets too excited about this Jesus thing. I've done it too. lol

It's almost as though if one were to preach some form of legalism under the guise of "loving Him"... no one would bat an eye. We'd actually have some "amens", and have a few hard lines drawn by some brothers beating their chests to remind us that without their version of "holiness", no man will see the Lord. But if someone starts talking about love and grace... people lose their minds with fear that we'll go too far off the deep end of trusting in the love of Jesus just a little too much. LOL

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

I remember when I loved Jesus and Jesus loved me. It was that simple. And when I messed up... I had to confess it and bring it too Him. And it was an important lesson learned.

Ever see those overly protective parents? You know, those who put their kids in plastic bubbles, and they bleach every surface twice a day? They rarely if ever let their kids go outside. And those dusty bikes they bought the kids have only been ridden once... on the day they were purchased. Ever see parents like that? They never give their kid Mac n Cheese, because it has *gasp*.... yellow dye. And ketchup has *gasp*... red dye.

What happens to those kids? Their immune systems are typically weaker than most. And when they get a little freedom in college... THEY ARE OFF TO PARTY TOWN.

Do we do this to our youth spiritually?

Because when I was a teen, I made some really stupid mistakes. Yep, I did some doosies. I fell on my face spiritually quite a few times and it drove me to the altar to talk to the Jesus who loved me and wanted me to be the best me I could be, as long as I tried to reflect Him. I learned from quite a few mistakes. I still do. lol

But my immune system fought off the devil's lies when he said, "You've gone too far son. Give up. This Jesus thing isn't for you."

Sometimes we need to fall down and scrape our knees. It's good for us in the long run.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

David,

Last week I was out-of-state and a pastor friend offered me a position within his church. However, I didn't reply with an answer.

I can't tell you I would be perfect, but I will tell you something. If I were ever to become a pastor, I would be the man that I would want leading me.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

What does that have to do with anything that he said?

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

My My My and good grief (as the one sister used to say). Let brotherly love continue...

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

It's a conditioned response. Amanah, was just responding as typically expected.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

I was thinking that just emotion would not keep kids saved. That unless they were grounded in the word of God, the emotionally feeling of *loving God* would not be enough to keep them. That love is what you do, not what you feel. But you took such offense to my statement that I backed off, I didn't really want to debate or argue.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

You are so full of yourself it's hilarious. Do you realize you come across as one of the most pompous, arrogant know-it-alls this forum has ever had? No, of course you don't. Your too blinded by your own moral and religious superiority complex to see something like that.

No wonder you're a democrat. Like all democrats and liberals, you have a mental disease, called "I'm Above Reproachitis", with an intractable case of "Hypocrite Maximization Syndrome."

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

But but but I thought that was MY rank! *Sobs*

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

That's not nice

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

No, I didn't mean it in a mean way. We've all been conditioned to say that.

It's like I said earlier, if someone were on here preaching some kind of legalistic viewpoint, we'd have some Amen's and a few people beating their chests over the importance of obedience... but if someone were to preach the power of grace and the love of Jesus.... everyone looses their minds. lol

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:21 KJV

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

I didn't take offense. I apologize if it seemed like I did. :friend

I think we might have it backwards. Let me explain though, because without a proper explanation it might not make sense. So, try to follow my reasoning and please share what you think.

I've been an Apostolic for around 28 years. The first church I attended at 13 years old was labeled "ultra-conservative". I mean, we didn't believe in attending sporting events because we didn't believe in fresh air. lol I mean, I loved God. I mean, really loved Jesus. However, it seemed like as I got older loving Him became more complicated. Hormones, pride, dreams, temptation, girls, school, that simple love I had at 13 years old just seemed to be something lost to the past. The rules seemed to be my saving grace. If I obeyed, I knew I was making the right decisions. I knew that I was good with God.

I was a "true believer". A "legalist of the legalists" if you will. I was convinced that love is what I did, not how I felt. If I obeyed the rules, I loved God. If I didn't obey the rules, I didn't love God. This led to a series of "up's and down's" in my spiritual life. As I was increasingly confronted with the reality of my sinful nature I found myself in a constant repetitious pattern of living victoriously... then failing somewhere in my life... feeling like I must not love God enough... then recommitting and repenting, promising to never fall again because I would NOW prove my love.... then I would get the victory again for a while.... only to fail again somewhere else in my life... and the pattern repeated itself over and over and over. I begged God to give me the ability to show Him more love by helping me to be obedient. I sought out people who I thought had constant victory, only to discover.... they were repeating the same pattern I was.

What happens to a young man (or perhaps even a young woman) when they've been told that if they love God they will obey... and they've failed in their obedience for the 1,000th time??? I'll tell you what I felt and what other teens my age said....

"I've tried and tried only to fail time and time again. I must not really love God enough. All of this is a waste of time."

I heard statements like this so many times as friends would leave church and go off into the world. But I'm a stubborn person. I decided that I wasn't going to give up no matter what. Oh, plenty of times I felt like a failure. And I'd just sit and prayer and say, "I know I'm a failure. But I love you, Jesus. I've failed you so many times, but you've never failed me. I'll never just give up. You are everything to me, even though sometimes I don't act like it."

I graduated school and joined the Army. And... I backslid. I got the victory, got back in the swing of things in church and then I got married. Then, 12 years later, I went through a divorce and... I backslid again. That's when I tried to run from God. But... He wouldn't leave me alone.

There was a bar called, The Red Carpet. Honestly, as far as bars go, it was a really friendly place. I don't like confrontation, so this friendly little bar was a home away from home for me after my marriage fell apart. I'd drink myself silly and stagger a block back home. However, Jesus wouldn't leave me alone. I got the nickname, "Bishop", at the bar because if I was drunk enough, and someone said something about God... I'd straighten them out and even preach from the bar stool! LOL And here's the kicker, I was running FROM God! I was drunk as a skunk... but when the anointing moved on me, I could still feel Him. I'd walk home crying, begging Him to leave me alone. Cursing Him and DEMANDING that He just leave me be! He wouldn't leave. I even got bored and made a couple lady friends. You'd think that would do it, right? Guess what? He STILL wouldn't leave.

That's when I broke down and just surrendered. I looked for a descent church, but I couldn't find one. Being divorced, they acted like they didn't know what to do with me. And the experience was negative too. I found that for some reason, loud noises, music, screaming, running, etc. would trigger my PTSD. But that's another story altogether. But it was about at that time when I met a couple house church elders who introduced me to house churching. And I've house churched since.

I took me over 20 years to figure this out. My obedience doesn't prove that I love God. Here, let me give you an example....

The Law of God says: "Thou shalt not steal."

Let's say that I choose not to steal my neighbor's lawn mower. Does that prove that I love God? Nope. Maybe I just don't want to be charged for theft.

The Law of God says: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Let's say that I choose not to seduce my neighbor's wife. Does that prove that I love God? Nope. Maybe she's ugly. LOL Or maybe I know my neighbor owns a gun! LOL!

Let's say that the church has a rule against long hair and I choose not to allow my hair to grow long. Does that prove that I love God? Nope. Maybe I just don't want to look like I belong in an 80's rock group.

Let's say the church has a standard against beards, short sleeves, television, etc.... if I choose to comply with any of these, does it "prove" that I love God??? Nope. I might just want acceptance of my peers.

So... love isn't what I do, because I can do what I do without loving anyone but myself and my own agenda.

However... what if we flip this? What if I just simply choose to LOVE God, I mean, just focus on LOVING God?

If I just focus on loving Jesus, will I steal my neighbor's lawn mower? Nope. Frankly, it won't even cross my mind because my love for God will cause me to love my neighbor too much to do him harm.

If I just focus on loving Jesus, will I seduce my neighbor's wife, even if she's a total babe? Nope. Because my love for God will cause me to love my neighbor too much to wreck his family and leave his kids paying the price of living in a broken home.

When Love is the single driving force.... it governs all things. I'll dress modestly because my love for God and others will not want to insight passions in others that might cause them to sin or that can't be fulfilled. I'll not watch vile things on television that exploit people for selfish gratification and the love of money. I won't eat or drink anything in the presence of a brother or sister who might be offended. Love alone fulfils it all through simply being what it is.

Paul put it this way:

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV)
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

So, allowing myself to be governed by the love that I feel for God and others causes me to automatically desire to do what's right and cause no harm. Why? Because I would feel terrible if I hurt God or hurt another.

Try it. Get up tomorrow and decide that you have only ONE rule. Love. And in keeping that rule, chose to love God and love others. Live your entire day focused on that single reality. It will even have you going out of your way to do things you ordinarily wouldn't do. Like make coffee for the office, deliver the coffee to a busy coworker. You'll notice people's faces and tone of voice and something in your heart will leap out to befriend and comfort them. Suddenly the entire world will change. Driving down the road you'll look at people wondering where they're headed. What their dreams are in life. What have they been going through. It won't matter if the odds are way against a person becoming a member of your church... you'll stop and take some time to care and to love them. It won't matter what kind of life they live, money they make, sins they have, kind of skin color they have, and the list could go on forever.

Some Judaizers came into the Galatian church claiming that the Gentile converts had to obey the Law of Moses and be circumcised to prove their love for God. Like any red-blooded male, things just got real. They are talking about snipping our, um, well, ... you know. OUCH! This is no joke. These Judaizers make a very strong case. However, someone evidently thought they'd reach out and see what Paul has to say about all this. Paul emphasizes that circumcision of the flesh means nothing. It's a circumcision of the heart that matters. But Paul said something else. He told them the same thing he told the church in Rome....

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love, all by itself, fulfills the whole law.

Now, are we perfect? Nope. We'll have days when we aren't so focused on love... and I assure you... those are the days we'll stumble. But the answer isn't promising not to ever do that terrible thing again. The answer is... drawing a greater focus on our love for God and our love for others.

This is what it means to have God's Law... written on our hearts.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Law shmall.

All the lists of rules one can take from the Law are overrated. Love is everything.

Here's something most people don't realize. The commandments of Jesus are distinct from the commandments of God. Watch this...

John 15:10-12 (ESV)
10 "If you keep my commandments (Love God/Love others), you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments (Law of Moses) and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Just love.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

If a teen falls in love with Jesus and truly loves the Lord, he'll do just fine. Even when he has a day wherein he's crashed and burned and knows he has to repent... love will draw him to the Lord to be cleansed and forgiven. When you love someone or something... it is everything to you. If they truly fall in love with Jesus... they'll never be able to shake it.

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

So you were practicing 1 Corinthians 9:22? :heeheehee

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Lol!

I don't know if I'd say that. Lol

Re: Just Typing Truth ...
 

Psalm 119: 1-16

Proverbs 3